EDO8262 - Scheduled Monuments on Winfrith Heath, E2L5; observations and recording 2022

OASIS: The watching brief monitored the intrusive groundworks associated with the pole replacement works at the Bowl Barrow (NHLE 1008680; Trenches 1 and 2 – Location 1) and Medieval settlement and park pale (NHLE 1017306; Trenches 3 and 4 – Locations 2 and 3). Two trenches were excavated at Bowl Barrow, trench 1 (1.20 m long, 0.60 m wide. 1.20 m deep) was dug to facilitate the removal of the existing pole. Trench 2 excavated for the new pole measured approximately 2 m long, 0.60 m wide and 1.90 m deep, and was located c. 10m to the east to move the pole off of the barrow. Trench 3 (2.80 m long, 1.00 m wide, 1.80 m deep) located at East Lulworth was dug for the removal and replacement of the existing transformer H pole. During the instalment of the new H pole the reading on the earthing cable was tested which proved to be too high. To lower the reading, the trench was extended (8 m long, 0.60 m wide, 0.90 m deep) to the south to install a new cable and bring the value down to the acceptable level. The work at East Lodge comprised of a stay replacement by means of an augured (Fig. 15) helix screw-in stay (Fig. 16) to support the existing pole. Due to a high earthing reading Trench 4 (Figs. 2c and 17 to 19) measuring approximately 10 m long and 0.50 m wide, was excavated, extending from the pole to the south-east. The depth varied from 0.50 m at the north-west end to 0.90 m at the south-east Project Results: The archaeological monitoring established that archaeological features were present in the trenches for the new poles at location 1 the Bowl Barrow and location 3 at East Lodges. The removal of the Pole at the Bowl Barrow (location 1) exposed possible remnants of barrow mound material, which appeared to derive from redeposited natural superficial deposit of Clay-with-flint. The new pole trench adjacent to the barrow exposed a ditch covered by possible barrow mound material. Due to the confines of the trench it was not possible to determine the purpose of the feature and no finds were recovered for dating, but the proximity of the ditch to the barrow may suggest it is the associated ring ditch Excavations at location 2 revealed natural deposits and the backfill of the original pole trench, no archaeological features or deposits were observed. The trench at location 3 exposed the remains of a dry-stone wall or masonry remnants, which based on material recovered from around it is likely to be modern in date, and possibly remnants of a boundary wall or garden feature.